Archived News Article
REACH: New Chinese consumer goods standard restricts 117 chemicals
In November 2020 a Chinese Mandatory standard (GB/T 39498-2020 - Guidelines for the Use and Control of Key Chemical Substances in Consumer Products) was published which introduced restrictions on the placing on the market of consumer goods (including furniture and soft goods) which contain 117 chemical substances. The requirements come into force on 1st June 2021.
The restrictions that have been included are based on a number of lists of chemicals that have previously been included in other restrictions such as REACH Annex XVII, Persistent Organic Pollutants and the European Toy safety directive.
Many of these will be familiar substances which will already be covered by requirements for the European market such as azo dyes, phthalates and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as the metals that are included in the migration of certain elements standards supporting the Toy Safety Directive (EN71-3). However, the list has also included substances that have been listed in EN71-9:2005 Safety of Toys Organic Chemical compounds - Requirements. This standard was never harmonized at an EU level but its lists of solvents, flame retardants and plasticisers have been reproduced here.
FIRA members can access details of 117 entries in the Chinese standard below.
